Lubricant control mechanism



Filed Nov. 11, 1929 A TTORNEY.

' 68 IN VEN TOR. do 6:705 M iflre a w a .4. fir H, 0 a a. 6 w a a w i 0o W 6 lllfl u H W -|Ml\ N WW 4 w H Patented Aug. 9, 1932 PATENT OFFICEJOSEPH W. LOVELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN LUBRICANT CONTROL MECHANISMApplication filed Novemberll, 1929. Serial No. 406,365.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a lubricantcontrol mecha nism adapted for use on electrically controlled orelectrically driven machinery and engines, and has for its object theprovision of means for prevention of operation without sufficientlubricant.

It is an other object of the present invention to provide a device whichwill control the operation of the engine dependent upon the amount oflubricant present in the lubricant container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thisclass which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture,highly efficient in use, and compact in form.

Other'objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanyingdrawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which:

m Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the invention. r

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring used in theinvention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of theinvention.

Fig; 4 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring used in the modified form.

In the invention I provide a lubricant con- 'tainer 7 havinga fillingspout 8, provided with a closure 9. An outlet nipple 10 is formed onbottom 11 of the container 7 to which may be attached suitable pipesleading to various parts of the machine to be lubricated. The valve head12 is used as a closure for the outlet part of the container 7 and astemrl3 which projects upwardly from 'valve head 12 extends through aguide sleeve 14, which is securely fastened to a partition or top15,through which it extends. The lock nut 16 serves to clamp the flange 17on the partition or top 15. A washer 18 is positioned in embracingrelation on the valve stem 13 and is engaged by one end of the spring19, the opposite end of which engages the valve head 12 and serves tonormally retain the valve head in closing position. A link 20 pivotallyconnects the upper end of valve stem 13 to one end of rockable arm 21,which is connected by link 22 formed from insulating material to thecore leg 23, the opposite leg 24 extending through the magnetic coil 25and operating as a core therefor. This core is secured to the plate ofinsulationv 26 which is attached to the top or partition 15 by means ofthe rods 27 The construction is such that when'the magnetic coil 25 isenergized, the valve head 12 will be lifted from its seat so that thelubricant can flow through the nipple 12 into the various pipes whichmaybe attached thereto.

Projecting through the top or partition 15 is a guide sleeve 28 which issecured to r the partition or top 15 by the nut 29 which clamps theflange 30 on the top or partition 15. Slidably projected through theguide sleeve 28 is a rod 31 which is attached to a float 32 positionedin the container 7. Rockably mounted on the upper end of rod 28 is adisc 33 of insulating material carrying on its upper surface thecircular metallic contact ring 34 adapted when the float 32 is raised incontainer .7 to engage the terminals or contacts 35 and 36. and closethe circuit through these terminalsor contacts. These terminals orcontacts are mounted on a bracket 37 of insulating material. which issupported on the top or partition 15. A

cover 38 is mounted on the container 7 to enclose the mechanismpositioned above the container.

, In operation, when it is desired to start the machinery or engine withwhich the invention is used, the starter switch 39 is moved 'to aclosing position so as to close the circuit between the contacts 40 and41. The con.- tact 41 is connected by the wire 42 to the contact 43'andthrough the wire 44 to the contact 45 to which is attached the feed wire46. The contact 40 is connected by the wire 47 to the contact 36 and thecontact 35 is connected by the wire 48 to the magnetic coil 25. Thiscoil is connected by the wire 49 to the contact 50 which connects to thefeed wire 51 and through the circuit breaker 52 to coil 53, which isused to operswitch controlling the machine the magnetic ate the main or.engine. the wire 55 through the circuit breaker 54 to the coil 53. Thecoil 56 controlling the circuit breaker 54 'is connected by the wire 57to the machine or engine 60. A wire61 connects through the coil 62,which controls the circuit breaker 52, and the wire 63 to the con tact64. The wire 65 connects the motor 60 to the contact 66. The contact 67of the stop switch 68 is connected by the wire 69 to the contact 43.

When the switch 39 is closed and a .suflicient quantity of lubricant isin the container 7, the float 32 will be risen to a height sufiicient toclose the circuit between the contacts 36 and 35, thus closing thecircuit to the magnetic coil 25 which will effect the movement ofvalvehead 12 from its seat. The circuit to the coil 25 will be throughthe wires 51 and 49 and through the wires 48, switch 34, switch 39,'wire42, contact 43, wire-44, contact 45 and wire 46. At the same time thecircuit to the magnetic coil 53 will be closed and this coil energized.The circuit to this coil will bethrough wires 51, contact 50 and circuitbreaker 52 and through the circuit breaker 54, wire 55, switch 34, wire47, switch 39, wire 42, contact 43, wire 44, contact 45 and wire 46.-When the magnetic coil 53 is energized,

. themaincontrol switch will bemoved to closed position, thus connectingthe feed wire 46, because of the movement of the blade 70 into closingposition, through the contact 7 land the contact 58 and the wire 57 andcoil 56 and wire 59 to the motor 60. At the same time through engagementof the contact arm 72 with the contact 43, the circuit will beestablishedthrough the contact 43 andthe contact 72 and the wire 69 tothe magnetic coil 25. At the same time the feed wire 51 will beconnected throughthe con- .tact arm 73 and the wire 65 to the motor 60.The feed wire -7 4 will also be connected through the contact 75, thecontact arm 76, the wire 63 and the coil 62 to the motor 60.

It is thus seen that when the switch 39 is closed and there issufficient lubricant in container 7 to maintain the float 32 elevated sothat the contact ring 32 engages contacts 35 and 36, the lubricant willbe released for flowing to the machine and the switch which controls themachines operation will be closed. Should there not be sufficientlubricant in the container 7 to elevate the float 32 a sufficientdistance for bringing aboutthe engagement between the contact ring 34and the contacts 35 and 36, the circuit to the coil 25 would'not beclosed, as clearly appears from the diagrammatical view so that the coil'53 would not be energized and a starting of the machine would not beefi'ected. In this way there is assured a prevention of the op- Thecontact'35 is connected by eration of the machine unlessthe lubricant isproper. V

In Fig. 3 I have shown the modified form of thestructure for use onmachines which require more power for their operation than machines withwhich the form shown in Fig. 1 would be used- With large machines ormotors, large magnetic switches,v are used for their control and theform shown in Fig 3 and Fig.4 illustrates the use of the inventionwhereby a switch may be incorporated with the magnetic arm so as topermit the flow' of sufiicient amperage to the switch operating magneticcoil to properly energize it. 'The'structure shown in Fig. 3 is similarto that already described excepting that an insulating block is securedto the arm 21 and provided with a contact 86 connected to the cable 87.This contact 86, when the arm 21 is rocked upwardly, is adapted to enage the contact 88 mounted on rod 89 whic is slidably mounted in thelugs 90' which roject outwardly from the blade'91 whic is mounted oninsulating block'92. The rod 89 and the lugs 90, as well as blade 91 aremetallic and a cable 93 attaches to the blade 91.

The link 20 connects the valve stem 13. to the arm 21 in the mannerdescribed for Fig. land thecontacts 35 and '36 are engageable with thecontact ring 34 which is moved upward'ly and downwardly as the rod 31 ismoved upwardly and downwardly so that the float switch is still.retained as shown in Fig. 4, in operation when the starting switch 39 isclosed so as to establish connection between the contacts 41 and 40 andthe float switch 34 has closed the circuit between the contacts 35 and36, the feed wire 46 will, through the contacts 45, wire 44, contact 43and wire 42, be connected to, the magnetic coil 25 through thewire 48.The feed'wire 51 is connected by means of the wire 49 to themagneticcoil 25 so that the magnetic coil 25 would thus be energized to rock thearm 21 and bring the contact 86 into engagement with the contact 88. Thecable or .wire 87 connectsthe contact 86 with the Contact 36 and thecable or wire 93'connects the contact 88 through the circuit breaker 54to the magnetic coil 53 to which the feed wire 51 is connected throughthe circuit breaker 52.. Thus the circuit to the magnetic coil 53 wouldbe vmade without passing through the magnetic coil 25 as would berequired in the form shown in Fig. 1. This permits the use of thedevice'on machines of larger dimensions,

having larger magnetic coil for throwing a switch. The remainder of thewiring indigated in Fig.3 is as already described for ig. 2. I

The advantages with the use of the form shown in Fig. 3 are the same asare shown in Fig. 1.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details ofthe structure shown but desire to avail myself of such variations andmodifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lubricant control mechanism of the class described, adapted for usewith a machine having an electrically operated control and electricmeans for operating said control, comprising: a lubricant container; afloat in said container; a valve for controlling flow of lubricant fromsaid container; electromagnetic means operable upon being energized formoving said valve to open position; an electric circuit connecting tosaid electro-magnetic means; a switch interposed in said circuit andnormally held closed by said float and opened upon the movement of saidfloat downwardly in said container to a pre-determined distance; and acircuit leading to said electric means, said circuit being passedthrough said float operated switch; 2. In a device of the classdescribed, a U shaped electromagnet core; an arm rockably mounted at oneend on one of the legs of said core and adapted, upon the energizing ofsaid magnet, for rocking upwardly; a container positioned below saidmagnet having an outlet opening formed in its base; a valve for closingsaid opening; a valve stem connected to said valve adapted upon upwardrocking movement of said arm for opening said valve; a contact carriedby and insulated from the free end of said arm; and a stationary contactengageable with said contact mounted on said arm upon energizing of saidmagnet. In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

JOSEPH W. LOVELL.

